Houston, texas's
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History of Houston, Texas
Houston is the Population of Texas cities in 2000|largest city in the state of Texas and the Largest cities in the US|fourth-largest in the United States|United States. As of the 2005 U.S. Census estimate, it had a population of more than 2 million. The city covers more than 600 square miles (1,600 km²). Houston is the county seat of Harris County, Texas|Harris County and part of the Greater Houston|Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area, the sixth-largest United States metropolitan area|metropolitan area in the U.S. with a population of more than 5.5 million.[http://www.houston.org/media/documents/09AW025_001.pdf Current Population Estimates]. Houston Population Estimates, July 2006 2006. Retrieved on 2007-04-04.
Houston was founded on August 30, 1836 by brothers Augustus Chapman Allen and John Kirby Allen on land near the banks of Buffalo Bayou. The city was incorporated on June 5, 1837 and named after General Sam Houston, commander at the Battle of San Jacinto. The burgeoning port and railroad industry, combined with oil discovery in 1901, has induced continual surges in Houston's population. In the 20th century, Houston became the home of the Texas Medical Center, the world's largest concentration of healthcare and research institutions, and NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.
Houston's economy has a broad industrial base in the energy, aeronautics, and technology industries and only New York City is home to more Fortune 500 headquarters. The Port of Houston ranks first in the United States in international waterborne tonnage handled and second in total cargo tonnage handled.[http://www.aapa-ports.org/files/Statistics/2004%5FUS%5FPORT%5FCARGO%5FTONNAGE%5FRANKINGS.xls U.S. Port Ranking by Cargo Volume 2004]. Port Industry Information, American Association of Port Authorities. 2004. Retrieved on 2007-01-15. Houston is also home to Rice University, one of the United States' leading teaching and research universities, and the University of Houston, Texas's third-largest public research university with more than 36,000 students from 130 countries.
Houston is a multicultural city with a large and growing international community. The Houston Museum District|Museum District is home to many cultural institutions and exhibits, attracting more than 7 million visitors a year. Houston has an active visual and performing arts scene as one of five U.S. cities that offer year-round resident companies in all major performing arts.
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